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CHAPEL HILL – Thursday’s severe thunderstorm claimed the life of 20-year-old UNC student Xuezhou Nan–also known as Julia–of Cary, according to a release by UNC Chancellor Holden Thorp.

Orange County Emergency Services Director, Jim Groves says the call came in of a tree down on a person to which Chapel Hill Fire and OC EMS responded.

“She was a 20-year-old female,” Groves says. “She was transported to UNC Emergency Department and later that evening, we received notification that she had passed away.”

In the release from Chancellor Thorp, he says “It is so hard to lose one so young, especially in such a terrible, random and tragic event. I hope that all of you, Julia’s fellow Tar Heels, will keep her family and friends in your thoughts at this sad time.”

Groves says there were several vehicle accidents as a result of the storm but no other events similar to this one.

Roads are still being cleared by the Department of Transportation while power companies are working to restore electricity.

“We’ve still got about 3,000 people without power in the county,” Groves said.

Despite the storm, Groves said that no extra EMS crews had to be called in to respond to emergencies.

From the Office of the Chancellor

Dear Carolina community:

Last night’s storm claimed the life of one of our students, Xuezhou Nan, a 20-year-old senior from Cary. Julia, as she was known, was fatally injured by a falling tree on Franklin Street.

It is so hard to lose one so young, especially in such a terrible, random and tragic event. I hope that all of you, Julia’s fellow Tar Heels, will keep her family and friends in your thoughts at this sad time.

Counseling resources are being made available to the students most immediately affected by her death. Students who feel they need assistance may call Counseling and Wellness Services at (919) 966-2281 during regular operating hours. Employees may contact the Employee Assistance Program at (877) 314-5841.

Chapelboro.com and WCHL, equal opportunity employers, are dedicated to providing broad outreach regarding job vacancies at the station. We seek the help of local organizations in referring qualified applicants to our station. Organizations that wish to receive our vacancy information should contact WCHL by calling (919) 933-4165.